The Review

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Friday, January 31, 2014

Attorney Christine Svenson reponded to State Treasurer Dan Rutherford's accusation today that she attempted to blackmail him. In a statement, Svenson wrote:

Mr. Rutherford's statements directed towards me today were unfortunate. This is not a matter of politics, nor is it about me. To the contrary, this matter is about my client. I am a licensed Illinois attorney who specializes in employment law and who has been retained to represent the legal interests of my client and my client's interests alone.

It is important at the onset that I make clear that I have nothing to do with the Bruce Rauner campaign other than a brief piece of legal work that I did for them last year: the negotiation and review of a single office lease. In fact, it was Mr. Rutherford’s own lawyer who referred me to the Rauner campaign. In checking my records, the work was completed by April 2013 and I have had no communications of any kind with Mr. Rauner or any representative of his campaign since then.

My client came to me a couple of weeks ago with serious and real allegations concerning Mr. Rutherford. My client had initiated a claim with the Inspector General of the Treasurer’s Office before coming to me. After investigating the evidence, we elected to contact Mr. Rutherford’s office directly. Mr. Rutherford’s general counsel and in-house counsel both expressed a strong interest in keeping the matter private, and also expressed an appreciation for our willingness to do so. We were exchanging information and negotiating on a good-faith basis for days until as recently as yesterday. These types of negotiations are, in my experience, common with regard to the Treasurer’s office and have nothing to do with politics or the gubernatorial primary.

This morning, Mr. Rutherford chose to make this matter about politics - probably because the facts are so troubling. I have nothing against Dan Rutherford, and have no horse in the governor’s primary race. We are currently exploring our legal options. I will continue to act in furtherance of my client's interests to protect my client's rights and to avail my client of all appropriate legal remedies for violations of my client's rights.

The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, commonly known as ObamaCare, is a train wreck. For many, since ObamaCare was enacted the cost of coverage has dramatically increased and will continue to do so. People aren’t enrolling in ObamaCare at the rate the Obama administration predicted – by a long shot. And many are finding out that they can’t keep their insurance or their doctor.

And for all the damage the ACA has caused, there is little reason to believe that it will actually expand health care access and affordability. Today, the majority of Americans prefer the flawed health care system that we had prior the ACA.

Here are some important facts every Illinoisan should know about ObamaCare and Medicaid:

CHICAGO - State Treasurer and GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford announced today that he's launching an independent investigation into unspecified allegations made against him by a current employee in the treasurer's office.

At a press conference in Chicago Rutherford said, "Let me make this very clear, there is absolutely no truth to the allegations. No factual support or merit."

Rutherford contends his primary opponent Bruce Rauner is behind the accusations, and what seems to be an attempt at blackmail.

"Christine Svenson is an attorney making demands on behalf of the accuser and is directly linked to my opponent Bruce Rauner," Rutherford said. "Svenson demanded payment of $300,000 dollars for the employee to 'walk away and keep it under wraps.'"

It has been reported that Rauner has been quoted as saying he has "book on all the Republican candidates" and he's going to "destroy every one of them."

Discussion about the Rauner campaign preparing to use personal information against Rutherford has been going on for a while. Sources tell Illinois Review the Rauner team may have finally pulled the trigger in order to take the media focus off Rauner, and to weaken Rutherford who has amassed the largest campaign war chest after Rauner and is preparing to launch television ads in February.

The first thought that hit me when I read of House Speaker Mike Madigan’s proposal to cut the corporate income tax in half was that he was trying to cut GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s pitch to business off at the knees.

While we can expect President Barack Obama to claim success for his signature legislation, commonly referred to as ObamaCare, a growing share of Americans understand the reality of the health-care overhaul.

According to a recent Reason/Rupe poll, the majority of Americans would like to return to the pre-ObamaCare health care system, despite all of its failings.

In addition to the calamitous rollout, the reality of the president’s health-care overhaul is that it was sold to the American public on a string of broken promises and has produced dismal results:

CHICAGO – Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis will say just about anything in her never-ending fight for her union’s self interests.

Her latest big-mouth blunder came this week when she tried to scare the public into believing that some of the city’s charter schools could soon be teaching creationism.

Lewis was referring to hypothetical charter schools that could get rejected by their local school districts, but gain approval upon appeal to the Illinois Charter School Commission. Lewis contends schools in that situation would collect funding from the local school district, but would have “absolutely no oversight” and “could teach whatever they want,” DNAinfo.com reports.

“They could teach creationism,” Lewis said.

The horror!

Jeanne Nowaczewski, executive director of the charter school commission, essentially told the news site that Lewis is full of hot air.

“Whoever approves the school becomes the authorizer,” and the charter school commission would be responsible for oversight of the school. Nowaczewski said her commission uses an “extremely rigorous” accountability system, and that it’s illegal for government-funded schools in Illinois to teach creationism.

It may be a good first step for slowing the free fall the state is in towards the bottom of the list of states to do business in. We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. (It hasn't budged in over a year). Businesses leaving in droves and virtually zero new business start-ups.

Something tells me it is going to take a lot more than a maybe tax cut to stop the hemorrhaging.

Last night the Lake County Township Republican Organizations of Moraine, West Deerfield, Shields and Vernon held a joint endorsement session. The requirement was 70% of the vote for endorsement. The following candidates met that threshold and were endorsed:

“I’ll see your $10 minimum wage and raise you two sick days,” said Governor Quinn, bellied up to the table with a set of chips stacked neatly in front of him. It was dealer’s choice on Wednesday with Quinn as the dealer. Bluffing his way through the required State of the State address, the cards he dealt didn’t jive with the cards already on the table, as much as he wanted to make everyone believe it.

On a cold winter’s afternoon, on a train bound to nowhere, poker face intact, Governor Quinn said, “Illinois is making a comeback,” and “We’re getting the job done,” stating that under his leadership Illinois has restored integrity in state government and passed comprehensive pension reform. He disregarded the facts that more work needs to be done on pensions, we still have the worst credit rating in the US, and his administration shuffled a known gang member between state agencies.

NAPERVILLE, IL - Dozens of former elected officials in the Chicago suburbs surrounding are collectively receiving tens of thousands of dollars a year in pension benefits, even though they mostly worked part time.

Besides the question of whether the part-time work deserves such benefits, critics say the payouts are an unfair burden on local taxpayers. Some say they also demonstrate a failure of the state's pension reform plan to go far enough in easing a crisis that has left Illinois mired in debt.

"Only in Illinois would part-time public service come with a lifetime pension," said Adam Andrzejewski, founder of Openthebooks.com, a government finance transparency website based in Elmhurst. "These instances are why the state Legislature's recent pension reform didn't go far enough. All these outrageous 'one off' examples add millions to property and sales taxes."

The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald used an open records request to find that 42 former suburban officials who worked mostly part time will collectively receive more than $200,000 this year in retirement benefits.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Health Department in Madison County, Illinois, shut down a rogue bakery this week. The culinary culprit was an 11-year-old girl who made about $200 selling cupcakes. She hopes to use the money to open her own bakery someday, while she even gives to charity now.

When she made the local newspaper, the Health Department decided that her mother either needed to actually begin a licensed bakery or add a second kitchen to her house. Health Promotion Manager Amy Yeager said, “The rules are the rules. It's for the protection of the public health. The guidelines apply to everyone.” Indeed, there are few threats to public health quite as serious as an 11-year-old girl making cupcakes.

There is a growing controversy throughout America. Parents, teachers, state officials, and concerned citizens from most every state have become concerned about the new nationalized education system, known as Common Core. The professors who wrote the commentary “Common Core and Continued Prosperity” published in the O.C. Register (1-27), provided reasons for it being initiated and referred to specific expectations by its promoters, but then failed to adequately address opponents' specific concerns.

The above commentary provided Bonnie O’Neil and me with the impetus to delve into the nature of Common Core which both California and Illinois have endorsed wholeheartedly. An Illinois Education Association (IEA) website explains Common Core Standards under the guise that the resources will provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn to ensure that all students achieve college and career readiness.

Rauner's amended filings show the campaign building up staff to a total of 15 at the end of the year. Those 15 are in addition to financial consulting and law firms, as well as advertising groups of which Rauner's campaign lists as outside consultants.

Of the staffers reported, almost all have worked for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk or former U.S. Congressman Bob Dold as political campaign or legislative office staffers. Two others either presently or have up until recently worked for the Illinois Republican Party, and one, the campaign's communications director Mike Schrimpf served in the same capacity for the Republican Governor's Association until he signed onto the Rauner campaign.

Schrimpf told Illinois Review Thursday that he left the RGA when he joined the Rauner campaign, although Schrimpf's LinkedIn account showed Tuesday morning he still worked for both:

According to a filing this morning with the Illinois State Board of Elections, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner has put an additional $1 million dollars of his own money into his campaign -- bringing his total investment to-date to: $3,000,000.

The Drudge Report is currently leading with a banner headline entitled “Republicans On Suicide Watch,” which links to a prescient opinion piece by Ann Coulter. This time Ms. Coulter is not engaging in nastiness or hyperbole. She properly highlights the dire, really suicidal impulse of Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and closer to home, our own Aaron Schock, the spineless mouthpiece for the leadership, over immigration.

Boehner issued a one-page statement of principles on immigration last week. The document made clear that he would bring to a vote a bill giving legal status to all illegal immigrants this year.

This will be the end of the Republican party. That is no exaggeration.

CHICAGO - After two decades of legal and political obstruction, Illinois finally enacted a law allowing parents to be notified before their minor children obtain abortions. A small victory, and a modicum of restraint after Illinois' long retreat from human decency.

Some might think that would be the end of it. Like Obamacare, liberals would accept that parental notification is now the law. After all, except for notification, there are few restrictions on abortion in Illinois.

But the fight is never over for the profiteering proctors of prenatal death. Private and public money is too plentiful and flows too freely into the pockets of Illinois' pro-abortion politicians.

The primary channel through which Illinois' feticide money cascades is Personal PAC, which seems to be telegraphing its future agenda through its 2014 endorsement questionnaire.

"The status of reproductive health care in the U.S. is shameful and is held hostage by narrow religious beliefs," says Personal PAC's questionnaire to Illinois candidates. "Going forward, much more needs to be accomplished..."

So, what specifically does Personal PAC plan to accomplish in Illinois?

Passing FOCA

The abortion industry is nervous about the possibility of the U.S. Supreme Court reconsidering their 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that legalized abortion. Personal PAC asks (below) if the candidate supports passing a state Freedom of Choice Act (commonly referred to as FOCA), which would keep nearly unrestricted abortion legal in Illinois even if the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade.

SPRINGFIELD - Tio Hardiman, a Hillside Democrat challenging Pat Quinn in the Democrat Primary says challenger in the March primary says the Governor's claims that "Illinois is making a comeback" don't add up.

Hardiman spoke following Quinn's State of the State address Wednesday and reacted to Quinn's statement that Illinois has improved since he took office.

Hardiman says unemployment is still too high and lawmakers' solution to a $100 billion pension shortfall faces several legal challenges. "How can you make a comeback when the numbers look so dismal?" said Hardiman.

UPDATE x3: The Goel campaign is telling IR that the disappearance of Gingrich's endorsement (below) from his website is "only a technical glitch," and point to the Former Speaker's Facebook page (HERE) where the endorsement still exists.

According to the campaign, Gingrich "has been totally steadfast in his endorsement of Manju's candidacy after a [sic] interview by his well-rounded team of senior political and policy advisers."

The Goel team tells IR that "Larry Kaifesh tried very hard to have him [Gingrich] withdraw the endorsement by repeating and even expanding the baseless charges against one of her financial supporters." However, the "effort failed."

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UPDATE x2: Manju Goel is denying that Gingrich has rescinded his endorsement of her campaign, telling IR:

"Newt Gingrich is fully committed to my campaign with full endorsement."

We've contacted Gingrich's office and will update the story when we hear back. The link to Gingrich's previous endorsement statement remains blank.

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UPDATE x1: Gingrich's endorsement of Manju Goel, which was on his website this morning, has now mysteriously disappeared. The link (HERE), that had the statement below, now takes you to a blank page.

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a law extending online betting in time to allow horse racing tracks to keep their racing schedules intact this year.

The bill, HB11, passed the Senate 47-4 on Wednesday. The House voted 98-10.

The legislation allowing online betting had been set to expire Friday. Not unexpectedly, the Illinois Racing frightened legislators with a threat that failure to sign the bill would mean limiting their oversight ability.

SCHAUMBURG - Cancer Treatment Centers of America says it plans to move its corporate headquarters from suburban Chicago to Florida. Along with the Center is likely to go the political interest of CEO Robert Mayo, who has made substantial donations to Illinois Republican candidates since 2002.

The Illinois State Board of Election records show that since 2002, Mayo has made 42 campaign donations totaling $28,600 to Republicans in Illinois, including Jim Ryan for Governor in 2002 and Tom Cross for State Treasurer in 2013. He has been an especially enthusiastic supporter of State Senator Dan Duffy.

Sen. Duffy had no comment when asked about the company's move and its effect on GOP political fundraising for himself and other Illinois Republicans.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The labor unions, with sagging membership and low public approval ratings, are determined to improve their public image.

And they want to start by winning over the hearts and minds of the most naïve and impressionable group of citizens they can find – innocent school children.

State Sen. Michael Hastings, a Chicago Democrat, has introduced Senate Bill 2682, which would mandate all Illinois public school students learn “the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.”

The law already requires students to learn “the role of labor unions and their interaction with government in achieving the goals of a mixed free enterprise system.”

Does Hastings really believe this stuff should be taught in classrooms, or is he simply doing the bidding of his sponsors.

In 2012, Hastings received at least $14,500 in election contributions from school labor unions, including:

American Federation of Teachers Local 604 – $6,000

Illinois Federation of Teachers – West Suburban – $4,500

Chicago Teachers Union PAC – $4,000

And if Hastings really does believe these lessons are crucial, what does he base his argument on?

WASHINGTON - Religious freedom is only one consideration out of many in the battle between retail craft giant Hobby Lobby and the Obama administration, according to the amici curiae brief filed by Life Legal Defense Foundation in the United States Supreme Court. "

The Health and Human Services mandate that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for abortion and abortion inducing drugs puts women at risk," said Dana Cody, President and Executive Director of Life Legal Defense Foundation. "It's unbelievably irresponsible and sexist," Cody added.

Catherine Short, Legal Director at Life Legal Defense Foundation and author of the brief, explained, "The HHS contraceptive mandate is a political tool masquerading as 'evidence-based' science. Neither family-run businesses such as Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties nor any other employer should be forced to pay for drugs and devices that do nothing to promote health but instead end human lives."

Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka also won their stamp of approval, but her Democrat opponent Shiela Simon was also given the nod.

Tom Cross, who was one of only three Republican State Representatives to vote for the gay marriage bill, was treated the same. He received an endorsement, along with Democrat Mike Frerichs.

None of the GOP candidates for governor got the nod. In fact, the organization's president even criticized Dan Rutherford, who voted for civil unions, because they felt he was not vocal enough in support of the marriage redefinition bill they successfully pushed through the General Assembly late last year.

On the state legislative level, Equality Illinois endorsed only Democrats in the Primary, except for State Reps. Ron Sandack and Ed Sullivan who were the other two GOP House members to vote for gay marriage.

Jason Barickman, who was the lone GOP State Senator to vote for the gay marriage bill, is not up for re-election this year.

Senator Bill Brady, Republican candidate for Governor, said today that Governor Quinn’s State of the State message ignored the real job climate in Illinois that is causing people and jobs to flee the state.

“While other states are recovering from the great economic distress of recent years, the Illinois economy is failing the people of Illinois,” Brady said.

“Illinois has the third highest unemployment rate in the nation at 8.6 percent and much higher in some of our communities, and we are the second largest out-migration state in the country. And just troubling is the ominous forecast by Moody’s that Illinois will rank dead last in the nation in job creation this year.”

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers reacted to Governor Quinn's state of the state address with varying degrees of frustration and outrage. Below are reactions from State Rep. Mike Unes, Tom Morrison, Barbara Wheeler, Mike Tryon and Joe Sosnowski:

CHICAGO - The Rauner campaign took on ILGOP gubernatorial opponents in his response to Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State address Wednesday, dubbing them "Pat Quinn-Lite."

"As Pat Quinn spends the afternoon attempting to deflect from his abysmal record on jobs, taxes and pensions at today’s State of the State address, Illinoisans may begin to recognize that his record looks a lot like those of the career politicians running to replace him," Rauner said.

“Based on their record of raising taxes, increasing spending and enabling our pension problems, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford might as well be nicknamed Pat Quinn-Lite,” said Mike Schrimpf, spokesman for Bruce Rauner’s campaign. “The fact is all three candidates have spent more than twenty years in Springfield pushing a jobs-killing agenda with more taxes and increased spending.”

Rauner pointed to Quinn-like political histories of his opponents, who've all been in the Illinois legislature for two decades or more:

WASHINGTON - Diane Iser, an 11-year breast cancer survivor from Hoffman Estates, listened attentively to President Barack Obama discuss the Affordable Care Act while at the State of the Union address Tuesday night.

“That’s what health insurance reform is all about,” the president said after telling an anecdotal story of someone recently covered by the ACA, “the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don’t have to lose everything."

But Iser was in Washington D.C. Tuesday representing a different perspective on Obamacare. The president's comments touting Obamacare outraged her. "It was a sales pitch," she told Illinois Review.

A guest of Republican Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06), Iser shared her story of losing healthcare coverage under the new law, and she is unsure as to whether she will be able to afford her doctors by the end of this year. While she has a bridge plan right now, Iser said she is already getting notices of increasing costs.

“(Americans) have been leveraged,” Iser said. “We were self sustaining, we had our policies, we could afford them and right now we’re looking at a situation where I am wondering how I am going to keep the doctors that saved my life at the end of this year because of the rising costs.”

Back when he lost a GOP primary in 2012 to a more conservative candidate, former Sen. Richard Lugar (RINO-Indiana) denied that he had actually endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2008 but had merely said nice things about Obama's nonexistent foriegn policy experience. The Obama web site claimed the endorsement of Lugar and the slippery Lugar did not do very much to distance himself from that claim. Lugar refused to endorse the Republican who beat him in the primary and the seat was lost in 2012 to a Democrat.

Now in 2014 when the GOP has a somewhat reasonable chance to win a majority in the Senate, Dick Lugar has both openly endorsed and donated $5,000 to Democrat Michelle Nunn who is running for the open seat in Georgia. Does he have any excuse this time? No, he often voted like a Democrat and now is completely out of the closet since he took his bat and ball and went home after GOP primary voters rejected him in 2012.

In an even more absurd move, former Sen. John Warner (RINO-Virginia) has endorsed Democratic Sen. Mark Warner (no relation) in a critical Virginia race. So the next time a RINO claims the Tea Party Republicans are not team players because the support primary challengers, here is some evidence of why the Tea Party backers are wise to do so.

SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Board Members, Precinct Captains, and Precinct Associates of the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization (STRO) voted Tuesday night to make the following endorsements in the Republican primary election on March 18, 2014:

For United States Senator: James D. "Jim" Oberweis (ENDORSED) over Doug Truax

Wednesday, the Illinois House and Senate will convene in the Capitol to hear Governor Quinn give his State of the State address. This will be the fourth address that I have attended and here is what I would like to here, “the State of our State is strong and improving every day. The economy is dramatically better, and our finances are in great shape. Still, there is much more work to be done.” By the way, these were the opening words of Governor Scott Walker’s State of the State in Wisconsin last week.

Last year, Governor Quinn talked about all the heroes and champions in the state, but more so about how far Illinois had progressed and what a positive direction Illinois was moving. Candidly, his speech last year sounded just like words spoken by Governor Walker last Friday. But one big difference exists. Governor Walker can look statistically at the positive direction he has moved Wisconsin – Governor Quinn cannot.

The NRCC also announced that the Peoria area U.S. Rep. will serve as chairman of the NRCC’s March dinner — one of the committee’s top fundraising events of the year. Schock pledged to raise an additional $1 million for the committee before the March 26 event.

It is rumored Schock is positioning himself to be the next chairman of the NRCC in 2015.

SPRINGFIELD – In anticipation of Gov. Pat Quinn's State of the State address, Illinois State Rep. and candidate for Illinois State Treasurer Tom Cross today released the following statement:

“Illinois faces great challenges that require innovative policies and bold solutions. For far too long, our political leadership has relied on faux reforms and financial gimmicks – making our state’s fiscal situation go from bad to worse. As a result, Illinois has the nation’s worst budget deficit, over $7 billion in unpaid bills and we are unable to make the proper investments for our future in critical areas including education, neighborhood safety and job creation. Now, more than ever, we need real, substantive reforms that include an honestly balanced budget and a crack-down on the fraud and corruption that are fleecing Illinois taxpayers. The grave challenges confronting our state demand tangible, detailed and responsible proposals. I hope to hear those from Governor Quinn tomorrow afternoon.”

SPRINGFIELD – In Illinois, we are fortunate to be the hub of Midwestern commerce and transportation. Because of our national status, the state must make an honest commitment to ensuring that our roads, rail, waterways and airports are kept modern and safe.

The Land of Lincoln is in the final year of its $31 billion capital construction plan which was passed in 2009, thus it is time to start thinking about a new long-term plan for funding our infrastructure. There are recent examples in Virginia and California of where a mix of revenue streams and repurposing of local resources has enabled those two states to more adequately keep up with projects.

SPRINGFIELD - State Senators Sam McCann (R-Carlinville) and Bill Haine (D-Alton) are introducing legislation in the Illinois Senate to help Illinoisans facing skyrocketing prices and short supply for propane to heat homes and businesses.

The Senators have filed an amendment to Senate Bill 2757, which would take a number of steps to help alleviate the pressures faced by the current energy crisis, including:

Increasing funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $10 million for the period of December 2013-March 2014.

Temporarily raising the threshold for LIHEAP eligibility by $10,000 for propane heating in the same time period. (Current threshold for a family of four is about $34,000, legislation temporarily raises the threshold to about $44,000)

Establishing a $20 million short-term loan program through the Illinois Finance Authority for small businesses, propane distributors, and farmers.

Raising the weight restrictions on Illinois interstates to 100,000 pounds until May 1 to help increase the available supply in the state.

WASHINGTON DC - As a cosponsor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7), Congressman John Shimkus (R, IL-15) released the following statement on its passage in the House:

“As a 100 percent pro-life Christian, I was proud to assist in passing this bill but was also required by faith to do so. This legislation would make permanent current policies, including the Hyde amendment, Helms amendment, Smith amendment, and Dornan amendment that ban abortion funding in various government agencies or programs."

The bill now moves to the Senate, where the Democratic majority is unlikely to bring the bill up for a vote. However, Shimkus believes that since the House has made its position known, when appropriations bills are discussed…these bans on abortion funding will still make it into law.

WASHINGTON DC - Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) voted to pass H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, a bill he co-sponsored which codifies the patchwork of federal provisions that ensure no taxpayer dollars fund abortions except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at stake.

“It’s rare Congress to come to an agreement on the issue of abortion, but ensuring no taxpayer dollars go to fund abortions has enjoyed bipartisan support ever since the Honorable Henry Hyde introduced his amendment. Vast majorities of Americans oppose using taxpayer funds to pay for abortion, and this bill ensures this policy becomes permanent and government-wide, including in the President’s health care law,” said Rep. Hultgren. “All life should be protected, from conception to natural death, and forcing someone to pay for a procedure they oppose on moral grounds violates their freedom of conscience. Regardless of your views on the issue, everyone can agree that no one should be forced to pay for someone else’s abortion, including the American taxpayer.”

H.R. 7 would make permanent the policies previously passed on a case-by-case basis, including:

WASHINGTON - The House Tuesday approved legislation that will put in place a complete ban on taxpayer funding of abortions that ensures abortions are not directly funded in any federal governmental program or department, LifeNews.com reports.

The legislation was passed once before in the U.S. House in 2011, but was stymied in the U.S. Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid will not allow a vote. President Obama has also threatened to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.

The legislation combines several policies that must be enacted every year in Congressional battles and puts them into law where they will not be in jeopardy of being overturned every time Congress changes hands from pro-life lawmakers to those who support abortions.

The House voted 227-188 for the bill with 221 Republicans and 6 Democrats voting to ban taxpayer funding of abortions under HR7 while 187 Democrats and one Republican voted against it.

Seven members of the Illinois delegation - six Republicans and one Democrat - signed on as co-sponsors:

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

“Tonight, the President talked about working across the aisle to find common ground, but words alone don’t bring about results. With families across the country struggling to make ends meet, the American people need tonight to be about more than just a speech; they need a real commitment to results, to getting people back to work, to finding bipartisan reforms to bring healthcare costs down, and to making government work for the people again. If the President wants to work with Republicans, we are willing to roll up our sleeves and have the tough conversations it will take to find common ground.”

GOP Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14):

“Tonight, President Obama demonstrated once again he is a product of Illinois’ governing mindset, one which has driven our state to rack up billions in unpaid bills and long-term debt. If Americans want to know the President’s true vision for America, one that relies on government—not individual action—to fix our country’s ills, look no further than Illinois’ 8.7 percent jobless rate. Businesses are leaving in droves for neighboring states.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is responding to the President's State of the Union with a national TV ad buy (below).

The woman featured in the ad is Emilie from Tennessee. She’s an Obama voter with Lupus who thought that ObamaCare would help her personally. However, her premiums have risen dramatically and her previous insurance was canceled. She was at the State of the Union this evening.

CHICAGO - A coalition of government unions filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to overturn a new Illinois law aimed at reducing a $100 billion unfunded pension liability.

The lawsuit, filed by the We Are One Illinois coalition in Sangamon County Circuit Court in the state capital of Springfield, claims the law violates the Illinois Constitution, which stipulates that public worker pensions are contracts that the state cannot diminish or impair.

The law, which was enacted in December but does not take effect until June, reduces and suspends cost-of-living increases for pensions, raises retirement ages and limits the salaries on which pensions are based.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford responded to the news, stating: “We anticipated this latest lawsuit by the We Are One Illinois Coalition regarding the new pension law. We will now wait and see how the Supreme Court rules. ”

This week two Chicago Democrat politicians who are farther out over their skis than Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards ever was (I’ve got Winter Olympics fever) will tell us their version of the state of United States of America, and the state of the State of Illinois.

They will explain to us that with just a few structural tax increases, and a price control or two, we could be living in a modern Utopia not even H.G. Wells could have imagined.

These two Manchurian executives will promise fairness and equality. But all they really have to offer is the fool’s gold of resentment and entitlement.

Where did those two million jobs go since President Barack Obama took office? The one-percenters are hiding them in their yachts and Swiss bank accounts. Have an Obamaphone.

Where did the roughly 250,000 people who have left Illinois during Governor Pat Quinn’s five-year tenure go? The one-percenters are storing them in cryogenic chambers in a right-to-work state. How about a game of video poker?

Oh here we go. We are only a few hours from another TelePrompTer tennis match from the Dear Reader. It's guaranteed to be the greatest speech since President Franklin Roosevelt spoke to the nation on television back in 1929. No, not really. That one was better because it happened only in Joe Biden's brain, which is an even scarier place than a Barbara Walters sexual fantasy.

As we discussed on last Sunday's show, that day's designated Obama administration stooge/mouthpiece Dan "The Law is Irrelevant" Pfeiffer was tasked with reminding everyone that Barack has not only a pen, but also a phone, and he's not afraid to use them, damn it! Then a series of other repellant Regime regulars like Jay "I'm tap dancing as fast as I can" Carney robotically repeated it, just in case we were too thick to understand what we were being told; specifically, Barack will work with anyone and listen to anyone's ideas, but if they deviate at all from what he knows is best for everyone, he will simply do as he pleases. Rule of law? What rule of law? Constitution? Ain't nobody got no time fo' that!